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Melatonin: A Potential Regulator of DNA Methylation
Kinga Linowiecka1,2, Andrzej T Slominski3,4, Russel J Reiter5
1Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Lwowska 1, 87-100 Toruń, Poland.
Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 28, 2023
Summary
Melatonin, a hormone regulating circadian rhythms, may also influence DNA methylation patterns. This suggests its potential as an epigenetic regulator and in novel anticancer combination therapies.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Epigenetics
- Oncology
Background:
- Melatonin, a pineal gland hormone, regulates numerous cellular functions and circadian rhythms.
- Circadian rhythm disruption is linked to genomic instability and epigenetic changes, particularly DNA methylation.
- Melatonin influences DNA methylation, impacting disease development and cancer initiation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the potential role of melatonin as an epigenetic regulator.
- To explore melatonin's modulation of DNA methylation via DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and ten-eleven translocation (TET) proteins.
- To suggest melatonin's use in combination therapy with epigenetic drugs for cancer treatment.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on melatonin's effects on DNA methylation.
- Analysis of melatonin's impact on the expression of DNMTs and TET proteins.
- Evaluation of evidence linking melatonin, DNA methylation, and disease.
Main Results:
- Melatonin influences DNA methylation patterns.
- Melatonin modulates the expression of key enzymes involved in DNA methylation (DNMTs and TETs).
- Evidence suggests a role for melatonin in epigenetic regulation.
Conclusions:
- Melatonin is an under-investigated epigenetic regulator with the potential to modify DNA methylation.
- Melatonin may be a valuable component in combination therapies with epigenetic drugs for cancer treatment.
- Further research is warranted to explore melatonin's full therapeutic potential in epigenetic modulation and oncology.
Keywords:
DNA methylationDNA methyltransferasesactive DNA demethylationepigeneticsmelatoninten-eleven translocation proteinsMore Related Videos
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